My wife and I had the opportunity to dine in Yellow Springs Ohio during a wedding weekend in May. We discovered Winds Cafe while researching places in the area and were lucky that they had just re-opened after COVID. For the most part our experience was decent, however, service was slow given they were still gearing up after a two year pandemic. Despite this, the food was outstanding and far exceeded our expectations. The duck was cooked to perfection with a flavorful sauce that honestly I still can't get over. My wife ordered the steak and it too blew us away. The rustic interior gave it a down to earth feel, while the slew of couples dining with us, made it feel like fine dining. This is a must try for anyone who stumbles upon Yellow Springs for a special occasion. read more

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Unique menu. Healthy and fresh food. Not overly seasoned or everything deep fried. II recommend as somewhere different to go. Service was good. read more

I visit the Winds Cafe restaurant when I am in Yellow Springs, Ohio. On my last visit I ordered a glass of prosecco and a charcuterie appetizer. The charcuterie came with one cracker. Since I had a friend with me, I asked for a second cracker. When the bill came, they had charged me $2.00 for the second cracker. I'm a good customer who appreciates fairness. You lost a good customer, Winds Cafe. We had dinner elsewhere. Perhaps you should change your name from Winds to Hot Air. read more

Winds Cafe - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

Visiting from Chicago, not much open in the town but we stayed and waited for this particular place to open-Heard it was good food. Walked in and greeted with "only servicing reservations", it was 5 pm or earlier...no one in the restaurant. Two people at the bar. There were four of us, not a party of 10 looking to rearrange your whole night. Offered to sit us at the bar like it was a special arrangement the host (lol) would be willing to inconvenience himself to make it work...at the bar! We left... in a village that is so open minded, I found the host to be a bit pretentious, judgmental, all the qualities despised in others. read more

The training of their wait staff. Our waiter forgot to enter in our order and had to re-take it 30 minutes after taking it the first time. The entire lunch experience took over three hours. read more

The call-ahead reservation system was off target. Our group called at 5:45 pm and they told us the earliest they could get us in was 7 pm. So when we arrived at 7 pm they told us it would be another 30 minutes, and ended up being 40 minutes. Annoying, sure, but it got worse from there. It took a while to be approached, a while to get our drinks from the bar. When we ordered, one of our friends ordered the bread service, under the assumption that there would be a selection of fresh breads, including focaccia. When the bowl of bread arrived, it was not as advertised and a disappointment and when the different meals arrived, the burgers were waaay undercooked and even when it came back from the kitchen a second time, it was not correctly cooked. It is important to note that the small plate dish "figs pigs and goats" was absolutely delicious!! It could very well have been an off night, and many items were comp'd, but overall a disappointing experience. read more

Sooooo good! My fav restaurant in Yellow Springs! Drove up from northern KY for our Anniversary dinner. We shared butternut squash frittatas - super yum. I had (by special request. Thanks Winds!) the salmon with black pasta. It was even better than I remembered. Honey had the scallops with saffron risotto on a roasted carrot purée. Magnificent. Both of our proteins were perfectly cooked. We shared a pistachio gelato for dessert and it was right on point. The space is intimate and appealing. The food is upscale without being pretentious. The staff are friendly and professional. Food comes out quickly. 4 stars instead of 5 only because the portion sizes are a little small. I'm a fan. I wish I could move to yellow springs. read more

Winds Cafe - Salmon with black pasta tossed with a light lemon cream sauce. - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Another special memory made at the Winds Cafe. Glad to experience another great occasion in Yellow Springs. Took some dear friends to the area I grew up in and ate at the Winds Cafe the other night. The food was very good and we'd been back before and it hadn't seemed as good as years ago but I'm glad to say I think it's gotten much better. We had walleye, pork chops, burgers and everything to go with. Even dessert with a strawberry tart, very good!! So happy to relax and enjoy the evening. Wait staff was lovely and it was very crowded so make a reservation. Nice hmm of chatter and laughter. read more

Great service and food. Came up for a long weekend in early June. I was disappointed that we were not able to order some drinks because there was no bartender that night. We were only there for a couple nights and were really looking forward to some of the cocktails on the menu. read more

A cute cafe in Yellowsprings, OH. This café is cute and funky. Their food is European inspired with an American twist and uses many local ingredients. I love that their menu is seasonal and changes to reflect what is new, fresh and in season. When you walk in, the décor is cute and more modern. As I really enjoy patio seating, I sat outdoors in their cute outdoor area. The outdoor area is the perfect setting for a date night or a night out with the girls. Their food is delicious. We started with their delicious bread and butter. The bread was very good. We started with a few appetizers. We ordered the Fried Zucchini and Fried Fish and Lemons with Lemon Garlic Aioli. The zucchini balls were good and tasty. The purple relish on the side added a bit more taste to the overall dish. The Fried fish wasn't anything special. I just didn't get the wow factor from this dish. They're known for their Figs, Pigs and Goats appetizer. This dish is figs stuffed with goat cheese all wrapped in bacon. YUMMMMM! This was one of my favorite dishes along with the Seared Halibut. The halibut was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Now, you can't leave without a decadent dessert. Please do not leave without a sweet treat. I shared a huge homemade ice cream sandwich with Tiff D. It was Chocolate Ice Cream sandwiched between two Snickerdoodle cookies rolled in chocolate sprinkles. I promise this was a dessert lover's dream! Overall, this cafe is great for dinner and cute! read more

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A true destination restaurant. Incredible for and service The chef and co owner is worth congratulating every time we have enjoyed the hospitality read more

Love love love this place. I rarely make it to Yellow Springs but every time I go, I try to always make it here. Starting with the staff- they are the nicest and most accommodating. They all take their time helping you decide what's the best thing to get based on your desires and their experience with pairing things together. That takes a lot of patience and experience which they all seem to have. The food is also very good! It's probably the most innovative place in the main Yellow Springs area without losing the eclectic vibe. I believe the menu changes on a regular basis so you'll have to check regularly, but trust me when I say, it's always great! One of the things they are known for that I highly recommend are the bacon wrapped dates. Incredible! There's just so much that's delicious that you probably can't go wrong with any option! I also suggest stopping next door at their wine ship. In addition to their higher selection of quality wines, they do have a section with great wines that are super low price. So yeah- definitely try this place! :) read more

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Stopped today for lunch. We weren't greeted. Stood near the hostess stand and were seen by several employees. Another group came in behind us after 10-15 minutes of waiting. We decided to approach the bartender. We asked if it was seat yourself? She said no unfortunately we aren't seating anyone for 20-30 minutes due to lack of wait staff. Someone could have politely told us that when they saw us waiting or perhaps put out a sign. The people behind us left as well. Disappointing for a Wednesday at 12:45. We felt totally disrespected by staff not acknowledging waiting customers. read more

The Winds Cafe is an institution in yellow springs. You can always count on a good meal and service.

Cute Cafe in historic Xenia. Lots of outside seating. The menu is quirky, funny names and eclectic choices. Came between lunch and dinner, but they still had 'bar menu'. The Greek burger with fries was tasty. My wife had a salad, everyone was happy. Proper food. read more

Winds Cafe - Greek burger Lunch special - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Small dinner portions for the price. Service was decent, but highly unlikely I would have dinner there again - unless there's a two for one special. read more

We stopped in after a hike nearby when we just happened through the town. The staff was very friendly and the food was prepared and presented wonderfully. Also, the bread prior to the dinner was really yummy. read more

Winds Cafe - Portobello piccata - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

Our experience was pretty terrible. We waited 80 min until they brought the entrees out. When we talked to the host/our waiter about this at around the 70 min point, they gave us the excuse that multiple large parties were ahead of us. Never once before we confronted them did our waiter keep us updated on our entrees. Then, when the manager came out the first time, she had an attitude with us and rolled her eyes and stormed off. It wasn't until I asked for her again and tried talking to her again and emphasized that their service to us also matters just like those guests before us did she finally offer to comp our meal. They took off 20% and the three drinks we ordered, but honestly, it was not enough for the amount of time we waited and the poor customer service we experienced. On top of that, my dinner came out kind of cold when it finally came out. I would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

(Okay, I'm going to try to get through my review of this excellent cafe without making an adolescent joke about the flatulent connotations of the name. I can do this.) The Winds is my wife's favorite restaurant in the country and it's definitely on my short list. Seasonal menus are great because you actually have to *wait* to taste certain things. And when you wait for something, it's just that little bit more special. I usually arrive in town in early September, and I know that their rich, delicious "Field of Sunflowers" bean, rice and goat cheese dish will be waiting for me. By the time the sunflowers near the edge of town start bowing their heads, the menu changes and the squash and pumpkin lasagna returns. Nothing against the very tender flat iron steak with chanterelle mushrooms or the so-rare-a-good-Veterinarian-might-save-it lamb burger, but that lasagna - creamy, savory, and the size of a hotel safe - is worth waiting for. The wine selection is small but exquisite. Erin at the bar makes one of the best Manhattans I can remember, though Manhattans aren't exactly memory aids. And the service is exceptional. A special shout-out to David, the waiter who took care of the wedding party at my rehearsal dinner. He accommodated every special request, found more seating as the party grew, kept the wine and cocktails flowing, and never lost his abundant sense of humor or charm. This is a truly great, original American restaurant. I hope you experience The Winds! (Damnit. Fail.) read more

Winds Cafe - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

One of the top restaurants in town - came in on a Friday evening and had Ruth as our server. She provided lovely service. Struggled some with the menu as my wife has some food allergies, but the chef was accommodating and worked with us. Disappointed not to try the sourdough bread that looked delicious but the same knife was used to cut it as was used on other breads that weren't allergy-friendly. uRoasted root veggies were tasty (broccoli, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts) and we both had the flat iron steak. Wecouldn't have the whisky butter seasoning on top and it wa slightly under seasoned and a tad overcooked, but the lemon broccolini and roasted potato were good. Had the boozy butterscotch pudding with snickerdoodle cookie for dessert. Wished for more robust cider offerings- the one choice was so-so. Lovely dinner, cozy atmosphere. read more

I have been reluctant to leave this review. I usually try and support the businesses in my hometown, even if only by my silence. But a Winds employee brought violence and fear into my household, and I won't keep silent. On September 10, my mother and my 12-year-old son took me to the Winds for my birthday. It was terrible. The portions were small. The food was uninspired and took forever. But the server is really what killed our evening. He was not only unfriendly but hostile. We had to flag him down two different times to get his attention. Possibly that made him angry; he literally tossed the dessert menus at us and spoke harshly when I said we had decided to go elsewhere for dessert. The host finally brought us our bill, and pretended to not notice that we were visibly upset. We tipped zero, and considered refusing to pay the bill at all, and we left a note on the receipt that the service was terrible. The server followed us out to the sidewalk and glared at us as we drove away, raising his hand above his head to make sure we saw him. Personally, I just waved back; I knew of him previously and was not particularly intimidated. But my 77-year-old mother has not stopped talking about it since. She called the restaurant manager the next day, who firmly blew her off, saying this server "goes out on the sidewalk all the time to get some air and because he knows so many people. Did you know he was a musician?" (Interesting since we were in your restaurant for over two hours and he never went outside once.) My mom has become reluctant to go downtown in case she runs into the server and has even discussed speaking to the YSPD about it. The idea that someone would refuse to take responsibility for being terrible at his job to the point that he would chase a family out onto the sidewalk and intimidate them, AND the fact that this behavior is completely tolerated by the management of the Winds, is unacceptable. read more

Great food, great service and nice atmosphere. Really appreciated all of the COVID precautions and happy we were able to try this place while in town. Very creative menu and reasonable prices. This was our first time here but definitely not the last. Highly recommend! read more

Winds Cafe - Lavender daiquiri - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Wife had an office Christmas party here. The service was slow, it took over 20 minutes after alcoholic drinks were delivered for her to receive her unsweetened tea. When she questioned the waitress, she stated it was still being brewed. When it was received, it tasted nasty, so she requested a coke and was told, sorry it I don't pour the drinks. When it was explained that drinks were being poured at table now she would have to wait until wine was finished being poured. What kind of service is that!?!?!? Food was good, but service, if that is what it could be called was lacking for a "fine dining cafe" like this. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. The food was good, but not worth the price for less than quality service. Can only give one star, nothing lower. Across the street, service is a whole lot better. read more

I ate here again only because it's the only restaurant in Yellow Springs that's slightly nice, and was hoping it improved but unfortunately it got worse. Truly surprising that this restaurant could be a hidden gem but it just seems to not care about service nor the food quality. Really a shame and will not be returning. read more

What a complete waste of space. One of the worst restaurants with a limited menu and terrible preparation. My brother had their version of fish & chips. It's was tiny bits of fish tossed with fried potatoes and the potatoes concealed the fact there was hardly any fish at all. I had Croque Madame that evidently sat under a heat lamp since last month. It was hard as a brick, flavorless and hard to get down. The atmosphere is very lame with no true decor to mention. The walls are mustard yellow and there is no respectable wall art. The service was polite but far too intermittent. Not just the worst in town but one of my worst restaurant experiences. Where is the no star option when you need it? read more

Breaking Winds: We had a 7pm reservation, for which they were a few minutes late despite the restaurant not seeming particularly crowded. Server at first seemed no-nonsense but drifted toward indifferent as the meal unfolded. The tequila cocktail was delicious and I most certainly would have had a second if I'd been asked -- my empty glass sitting in front of me for a good portion of the meal could have alerted the server or the manager, who we had to flag down to bring a salt shaker for the well-prepared & accompanied but quite bland halibut. The burger was fine if somewhat more well-done than the medium I requested. We took the check and escaped elsewhere for dessert and an apertif. read more

This little gem just warms my heart with their locally grown teas and amazing small bites. No better way to spend my birthday than with server David who made my day extra special with his positive attitude and warm smile. Can't wait to celebrate another milestone at The Winds. Will for sure recommend David to be our server for our next big get together as well!! read more

Winds Cafe - Our server made my bday one to remember! Looking forward to being back at the Winds and will for sure recommend David to be our server! - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

Great food in a warm and friendly atmosphere that is classy but not overly formal. An ongoing favorite for many years running.

This is the worst restaurant ever, our dinner took an hour and a half to get to us and the server never let us know what was happening. When the food finally arrived it was cold. I will never go here again! Why would I pay $28 for a cold dinner! read more

A unique place that's been one of my favorites for over 40 years since attending Wright State. Whenever I'm back in town, I have to head over to Yellow Springs to see what's new and what the Winds Cafe has added to the menu. Never disappointing! The fried brussels sprouts were mouth watering! The savory profiteroles were delicate yet satisfying. I tried the Tagine--lamb was very tender and veggies perfectly done--just a bit too tomatoey for me which left me wanting more spice. My husband had a duck breast that was seared to perfection with an equally perfect pesto/herb sauce. Overall--great ambience and service with unforgettable food, as usual. Always makes for a lovely evening with a walk afterwards. Until next time... read more

We made reservations in person and we're told to return in 45 minutes. When we returned we were told that the only available tables were outside and that there would be an additional thirty minute wait. This was completely unacceptable and there was no apology made .... nothing. The person at the door wasn't friendly at all and didn't seem to know what he was doing. I will not be returning to the winds anytime soon and will tell people about my unpleasant experience. read more

We have been to Winds several times and each time has been a wonderful experience. The menu changes with the seasons. We had a very good white wine and shared several small plates. We had the Gemini and Cancer Collide salad. Portion was very generous and the chef split it for us. The asparagus aillaid was really good as were The grilled lamb chops which were cooked perfectly. Service was excellent! Highly recommend Winds Cafe! read more

I love the winds - have been dining there for 10+ years. Last night's meal was especially good: I loved the walleye, and my wife loved the halibut. Great wine and beer as always. read more

One of the few places in the area to get a good cocktail. Their Manhattans are on point! The food is likewise top-notch: last time I visited I had their spring pea risotto with Morel mushrooms. That's right! Morels.... Mmmmm... read more

A very nice little place in Yellow Springs. When we came it was a Friday so it was quite busy. We didn't have to wait as long since we opted for patio seating. I enjoyed the apptizers the most. Food and service is really good here. I will definitely be back the next time I am in Yellow Springs. read more

Winds Cafe - Bob the Raptor says, "This is where the Bar mammals live." - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Worst food I have ever had ! This is definitely overrated by the customers! Save your money! Ever had a cheese and ketchup salad? Absolutely a waste of a good evening. read more

My boyfriend took me to the Winds Cafe for my birthday dinner. We drove up from Columbus, where we have plenty of good eats to choose from---but the Winds was WELL WORTH the drive. The server brought out a basket of delicious bread with herbed butter and an olive plate. I could have had that alone for my meal, so I was highly anticipating what would come next! While the entrees sounded and looked amazing, we opted to order 4 small plates so that we could give everything a try. We ordered the special Mexican style meatballs, made of pork with a kick-ass tomatillo sauce. They were served with tortillas, which were perfect for scooping up the sauce left behind. We also got the Stuffed Calamari, Winds Shrimp Cocktail and the Savory Moroccan Lamb Pastries. All 4 plates were cleaned by us, but I think we both agreed that the meatballs were our favorite. It was my birthday, so we HAD to get dessert. We split the Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta. It was very light---and the perfect amount of sweet. It was served with fresh strawberries. We split this, but I definitely could have eaten my own! We talked on the way home about how great the dinner was. And while Yellowsprings is about 1 hour from our Columbus home, it's WELL WORTH the drive for a great dinner. I am looking forward to heading back to the Winds, but this time--I want to hit up their brunch menu. read more

Winds Cafe - Stuffed Calamari - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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I can see a restaurant like The Winds Cafe shunning the title of Best Burger in Dayton Metro but that is exactly what I just ate. Previously Tank's in Dayton held the title for me and while they are very different burgers and probably serve different clientele, The Winds Cafe holds the top spot for me. Now, The Winds Cafe isn't a burger joint. There is only one burger on the menu called the Beaune Burger. It comes with fries on the burger but I opted for them on the side as I have eaten at Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh many times and fries on my sandwiches is overrated. The burger was ordered at a temperature of medium-rare and each bite melted in my mouth. I knew at first bite that my decision to order the burger over the pasta special was the right choice. If you love gourmet burgers, don't miss the opportunity to try the Beaune Burger. read more

Winds Cafe - The Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs, OH - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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What a disappointment! I came to Yellow Springs for a girls shopping day and had a great day. Until it was time for lunch. Winds is so popular and well known, we assumed it was good. You know what they say about making an a$$ out of you and me. Winds was terrible. In a town known for its acceptanceof alternative lifestyles, I expected to find vegan entrees. Instead I ordered the sausage and white wine pasta special without the sausage. I received a TINY portion of linguini drowning in canned tomato sauce. So disappointment. Bread was included with my entree and I eyed it with the hope of it satisfying my hunger. Unfortunately it was stale. Five of us sat taring at the bread basket longing for it to satisfy our hunger from a long morning of shopping. Next time, I'll eat at the cajun tent in the BP parking lot across the street. read more

We came for a Valentine's celebration. We frequent this restaurant. We made a reservation for 7:15. We checked in at 7:10 and were told that they were running behind schedule. They asked us to wait. We finally called again at 8:00 asking for an update and were told that our table was ready. Thankfully we were not in a hurry. We chose the Valentine's menu and it was spectacular. Absolutely delicious! The Mayan Love Ritual was a really nice touch at the end. Winds never ceases to stretch us a little. Who knew squid ink was so tasty? read more